Cousins you’ve never met
It’s a big family, scattered across Europe. At Connect you bump into them without first having to explain who you are.
Connect 聚通會
CONNECT · MAN CLANSMEN ASSOCIATION EUROPE
Connect is the family’s branch for those of us who grew up here. We link relatives up – with one another, with their Chinese culture and with a family history like no other. No registration, no fees. Come along once and see; you’ll be made welcome.
± 18‑55GREW UP HERE
€0TO JOIN IN
1000+RELATIVES IN EUROPE
01 · WHY CONNECT
Four things we bring together
Connect isn’t here to start anything new. It’s here so that what the family already has doesn’t disappear.
Knowing why we do what we do
Why there’s a mandarin on the table, what exactly happens at Ching Ming. We explain it without turning it into a lesson.
A long line – and you’re part of it
From the paddy fields of San Tin to Amsterdam: ours is a family with a long story. If you know it, you can hand it on.
A family is a network too
Studies, work, your own business, plans in Hong Kong: someone in the family has done it before. We make sure you find that person, so you can help each other along with advice, a contact or a chance.
OUR MISSION
Holding on to our knowledge and culture for the next generation
Traditions, language, recipes, stories – most of it lives in the heads of our oldest relatives. Whatever isn’t handed down is lost, and it goes quicker than you’d think.
Connect wants to get relatives keen on keeping the association alive. That doesn’t start with a role or a meeting: it starts with coming along once.
02 · WHAT WE DO
Sometimes you learn something. Mostly it’s just good company
You don’t have to join in with everything to belong. Come to what takes your fancy and skip the rest.
Dumplings, calligraphy, tea
Workshops at the clubhouse. An uncle or auntie from the family who really knows how shows you. Or run something yourself that others can learn from.
Off somewhere, together
A museum, a temple, a day of Chinatown history. We sort transport among ourselves; you can tag along right up to the last minute.
One big table, somewhere in town
Dim sum on a Sunday, hotpot in winter. Or short and close by: an hour after work in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or The Hague. You can always pull up a chair – and always cry off.
Chinese nights, sofa full
Karaoke with Cantonese classics and Dutch singalongs – nobody’s judging your pitch. On quieter nights, a film or a series: subtitles on, with running commentary from the sofa.
At the table with an uncle or auntie, recorder on
How they got here, what they left behind, what the first restaurant looked like. We help with the questions and the recording.
Writing down the aunties’ recipes
We cook it again, measure what was always done by feel, and write it down before it’s gone.
03 · WHO IT’S FOR
For those who grew up here
Roughly 18 to 55 in practice, but nobody’s checking passports. Man by birth or by marriage, in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe, with or without Cantonese. That’s the lot.
Why not simply the whole family? The seniors keep their own group, with their own language and pace – so nobody gets in anyone’s way. And you don’t grow out of it: once you belong, you keep belonging.
But the door’s open: the uncles and aunties are more than welcome to give a workshop or a get-together themselves. That’s how we pull young and old closer.
04 · THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
The relatives who make this happen
Nobody here was trained for this. Everyone started by coming along once – and then stuck around.
CHAIR
Siu‑Fong Man
Born in the Netherlands and grew up here for the most part. I speak a bit of broken Chinese, but reading’s beyond me; by trade I’m a business applications specialist. As chair, I’m the one to come to with any questions about Connect.
FINANCE
Koen Man
Born in Hong Kong, grew up in the Netherlands. I’m a financial adviser and I like structure, planning and control. At Connect I look after the finances and support the chair with the secretarial and organisational side.
COMMUNICATIONS & DESIGN
Sindy Mun
Used to live above my parents’ Chinese restaurant. Now a designer and web developer by trade – for the association too. I run the website and do the design. Beyond that, I love being creative and I’m mad about good food.
OPERATIONS & FINANCE
Matthias Man
Hello! I’m Matthias Man and my father comes from Chau Tau, next to San Tin. Born in Germany, raised in the Netherlands. My background is in business administration and I work as an analyst at Samsung. At Connect I help out with operations and finance.
COMMUNITY & PR
Gwen Man
Born and raised in the Netherlands, 24th generation, second branch of the San Tin Man clan. What I bring is a creative way of representing the association from a younger point of view. At Connect I put relatives in touch with one another.
TRANSLATION & INTERVIEWS
Helen Wong
I live in Utrecht and work for the government. My mother’s maiden name is Man; my grandparents lived in San Tin, in Chau Tau village. I learnt to speak Wai Tau and I help Connect with translating and with the interviews.
DONORS & PR
Brian Man
You’ll find me in Amsterdam, where I get ‘everywhere’ on my bike. Together with the others at Connect I do my best to promote the association and find donors, so that it can keep going.
FACILITIES
John Man
My father 文位祖 is on the board. I’ve been moved by the dedication of the board members – by how they built this association and have kept it going – and I’d like to help with that, for the future.
ADVISER, SENIORS’ GROUP
Man Wai Kwong
Born in Utrecht, married to Natascha and father of a 33-year-old daughter. I’m secretary of the seniors’ group and I advise Connect on getting started and setting things up.
01 / 09
A committee isn’t a board: it’s a small group that organises the things it wants to be part of itself. Come along once and you’ll see how small that step is.
05 · GRADUATION AWARD
Got your diploma? That calls for a family celebration
If you’ve completed your studies, you’re honoured at the Mid-Autumn dinner: a free dinner, a prize, a certificate and a red envelope – lai see.
The board usually puts out the call once a year, in the run-up to the festival. The criteria and the deadline are with the sign-up form.
- WHO IT’S FOR
- Relatives who have completed their studies
- WHAT YOU GET
- Dinner, prize, certificate, red envelope
- WHEN
- Presented at the Mid-Autumn dinner
- CONDITION
- You’ll need to be there in person
- CRITERIA
- With the sign-up form
06 · JOINING IN
Come once and see for yourself
No membership required. Join the group and you’ll see what’s coming up – and if you’d rather tag along with someone the first time, that’s fine too.
Got an idea for a workshop, a day out or an evening – or would you like to run one yourself? Have your say via Support us.